The unexploded bomb, weighing 500lb, was found during excavation work on a car park and Army's Royal Engineers were called to the scene.

The detonation made an almighty boom as the Navy disposed of the device

They handed responsibility of the ultimate disposal of the bomb to the Royal Navy’s Portsmouth-based Southern Diving Unit 2 after it was taken to the Ministry of Defence Shoeburyness Range near Southend, Essex.

Petty Officer (Diver) Craig Waghorn, who was part of the four-man team in charge of the operation, said: "The Army’s Royal Engineers did a great job carrying out the dangerous job of fuse immunisation and were very happy to see us after their long day and night making the bomb safe for transportation.

The explosion was carried out by the Royal Navy

"It was good to work with the Army on this joint disposal operation and we’ll be glad to get back to base after a busy week on our duty call-out."

Much of the south of England was subject to heavy bombing during the Second World War and the team is regularly tasked with the disposal of a wide range of devices that could present a significant danger to the public both on the shore, at sea and on this occasion inland.

Experts handled the device, which was dropped on London during the Second World War

Hundreds evacuated from Brent as Army remove bomb

The huge device was removed on Friday (March 3) evening and hundreds of affected residents have returned to their homes within the 300 metre exclusion zone.

Police were called to The Avenue, near the junction of Willesden Lane, at around 11.30am on Thursday after builders unearthed the device while digging a basement car park for a new block of flats.

(Image: Brent Council)

Army bomb disposal experts were scrambled while hundreds of people were evacuated.

Some were briefly allowed back into the exclusion zone to collect clothes, medicines and emergency supplies.

78 people who were unable to stay with friends or family were put up in a local hotel by Brent Council overnight.

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They also organised a rest centre at a nearby church over the two day span, where evacuees were looked after by council officers and volunteers from the Red Cross.

Councillor Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, said: "The blitz spirit of the community is alive and well in Brent and my thanks go to all of the residents who showed such great patience and humour in the face of adversity while the army experts did their job.

"I would also like to thank our partners in the Army, Police , Fire Brigade and Red Cross as well as council colleagues who worked tirelessly throughout the night to help sort this out.

"We’re a resilient lot in Brent and I am immensely proud of how everyone responded."

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